Gen. 44:18 - 47:27; Ezek. 37:15 - 28; Luke 15:11 - 24
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This weeks Parsha has one of the most meaningful prophetic events to Messianic Believers in the Torah. We have come to the place here Joseph is revealing himself to his brothers. Joseph is now second in authority to the Pharaoh of Egypt. He is wearing clothing that doesn't make him familiar to his brothers. He has an unexpected position and these and many other thing make the possibility of this man being Joseph so far out of the realm of thought that his own brothers don't even consider it even though they are seeing Joseph right before their eyes. This event mirrors the revelation of Messiah Yeshua in the eyes of the Jewish people. They were waiting on the Messiah to come as a victorious king. One that would lead them in victory over the Romans and bring the glory of the Kingdoms of David and Solomon back. However Yeshua came just as The Holy Scripture says He would. As a suffering servant of Isaiah 53. They were not looking for Messiah Ben Yosef instead they were looking for Messiah Ben David. So when Yeshua arrived many did not see Him even though He was right before their eyes. However many Jewish people over the years since Messiah Yeshua came the first time, people like myself are able to rejoice once we look at the Scriptures and Yeshua is revealed to us. Just as Joseph spoke to His brothers and revealed Himself Yeshua has and continues to reveal Himself to His Jewish Brothers. This does not leave out the non-Jewish people because we always need to remember that just as Joseph brought deliverance to both the Jews and non-Jews. Yeshua also has brought deliverance to both Jews and non-Jews. When the Israelites left Egypt a mixed multitude were delivered along side the Jewish people. Amen
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This week’s Parsha shows us one of the best demonstrations of a changed heart within the Tanakh. As we read of the words and reaction of Yehuda the brother of Yosef, we see that over the years of Yehuda’s life something brought about a change of heart. Remember Yehuda was the one who promoted first the death, and then the selling of Yosef. By the time of these events, Yehuda was willing to give himself as a servant in place of his younger brother. I love this story because within every one of us is a history of bad decisions, poorly thought out plans and things we have done with the sole reason of hurting others. In Yehuda’s case, jealousy was the root of his early decisions, but we see here in this week’s Parsha that love is the root of his actions. If we all take the time to look back at our lives we should be humbled by the great distance we have been brought by following the leading of the Ruach as G-D formed us more closely into His image.